Water World
It’s a brave new world at The Water’s Edge Country Club, the 1988 Buddy Loving landscape in Penhook, hard by Smith Mountain Lake. Sure, it’s the same water world golfers knew and loved with the water visible on 14 holes and in play on eight, but portions on the layout and its vistas are vastly different.
Developer Ron Willard Sr. and his enablers, golf course architect Richard Mandell and Aspen Construction, have turned this once-impressive diamond into a reburnished gem that reopened in late March for member play following a $5 million, 16-month renovation.
In Willard, an entrepreneurial force for much of Smith Mountain Lake development, The Water’s Edge has an owner with the perspective, common sense and wherewithal to renovate the crown jewel of his waterfront playground.
“We wanted to raise our bar by becoming one of the premier courses in the mid-Atlantic region,” he says. “Our goal was to maintain and preserve the integrity of Loving’s original design and routing. At the same time, we wanted to modernize the course from a construction, maintenance, agronomic and playability standpoint.”
ADDRESSING AESTHETICS
Make no mistake: The Water’s Edge is private real estate-driven golf with plenty of housing in place and more on the way. But to the developer’s credit, the structures do not encroach upon strategic surfaces or players’ psyches.
In Mandell, a Pinehurst-based golf course architect, Willard found a soulmate who shared his vision.
“Design is basically problem solving,” Mandell says, “so you analyze and figure out what those problems are from maintenance, design, aesthetic and operational standpoints and figure how to fix those problems.”
Mandell had plenty to work with and plenty to fix.
“Most golf courses have to go through renovation after a certain period,” he says. “Course features wear down. Bunkers need to be rebuilt every 10 to 12 years, greens every 20 to 30.”
First and foremost was the need to rearrange the course to accommodate today’s technology. Bunkers were moved back and/or added on any number of holes, including all but two holes on the inward half to give the 6,976-yard par 72 course a new look and feel.
“Water’s Edge bunkers needed freshening up and some infrastructure repair,” Mandell says.
The addition of carefully hand raked bright, white bunker sand evokes the feel of other upscale courses that dominate the PGA TOUR.
The Water’s Edge also sports new agronomy. Old Penncross greens have been replaced with an A1-A4 bentgrass blend.
“The new turfgrasses for greens are more heat and disease resistant and more drought tolerant,” Mandell says.
On most greens, noticeably at Nos. 2, 11, 13, 17, and 18, he skillfully softened contours and reduced the gradient to allow putting surfaces to handle and 11 on the Stimpmeter. The solution to moderating No. 11’s severe back-to-front slope was to create three tiers. In smoothing and rebuilding green contours, the designer blended them seamlessly into surrounding topography.
ACCOMMODATING OPTIONS
Restaurants and real estate golf rely heavily on presentation. At the Water’s Edge, Mandell used a deft artistic touch in offering members new putting surfaces. At the 357-yard par-4 fourth, he set the green back 25 yards.
Holes 8 (402 yards) and 11 (211 yards), already full of demands, present completely different views. For example, at the eighth Mandell moved the green 15 yards to the left to accommodate back right hole locations. Meanwhile, at the par-3 11th, he adeptly slid the green a few yards clockwise and created a much-needed bailout area right of the green.
Lush fairways are a rye-bluegrass blend (much of it is sod from Delaware) and expanded teeing areas (L-93 bentgrass) into more efficient shapes than the old free-form tees. The tee enlargement at No. 15, the course’s shortest hole and golf course superintendent Jeff Snyder’s “agronomic pain in the rear,” now allows for greater playability and teeing options.
Clearing in front of the 10th tee gives golfers a better view of the landing area and the greenside pond has been extended more into the fairway. Additionally, by shifting the tee 30 yards to the left at the 379-yard 12th, Mandell had helped soften an awkward dogleg hole and provided a better fairway line to the green.
Part and parcel of the renovation was a massive irrigation upgrade including new pipes, heads and pump station, a systematic harmony that Snyder calls “just phenomenal.” He’s particularly pleases with a controlled system of “innies and outies” that permit perimeter watering without green flooding.
OPENING UP THE COURSE
The one adjustment the Willard-Mandell marriage required was a meeting of the minds about tree management. Mandell was for it; Willard wasn’t so sure. A final understanding eliminated 1,500 trees, or about 10 percent, resulting in enhanced panoramas, more risk-reward opportunities and healthier turf thanks to additional air movement.
On many holes (#3, #6, #8, #14, #17) among others, the result is altered playability, better sight lines and greater curb appeal. One of the most dramatic views is on the right-hand side of No. 6 tee, which offers a direct shot to the shimmering lake behind the green.
“That view has sold a heck of a lot of property for us,” Snyder says. Rerouted cart paths have cleaned up the layout’s look as well.
For the ultimate room with a view, stand on the deck of the renovated clubhouse. Looking south one’s gaze reveals a revamped dogleg right first hole with a now visible opening green. Below lies a fully developed practice facility complete with a large, immaculate putting green and ample practice tee.
Off to the right extending down toward the 10th green is a bunker and chipping area adroitly positioned to facilitate both greenside and fairway game simulation.
Practice is fine, but most members prefer playing. The Water’s Edge features five teeing options ranging from 4,362 to 6,976 yards. The routing is fair, the course impeccably groomed, challenging and female-friendly.
Take a moment to pause at No. 7 tee. In front lies a 183-yard island green or potential watery grave.
Depending on how things go there, check out the completely renovated 40-seat chapel between the sixth and eighth fairway. It’s utilized for weddings and special events after 5 p.m. Beyond the pews is a Bible. Use it or take your own Harvey Penick and reflect upon the heavenly opportunities that await on the next 10 holes.
Developer Ron Willard Sr. and his enablers, golf course architect Richard Mandell and Aspen Construction, have turned this once-impressive diamond into a reburnished gem that reopened in late March for member play following a $5 million, 16-month renovation.
In Willard, an entrepreneurial force for much of Smith Mountain Lake development, The Water’s Edge has an owner with the perspective, common sense and wherewithal to renovate the crown jewel of his waterfront playground.
“We wanted to raise our bar by becoming one of the premier courses in the mid-Atlantic region,” he says. “Our goal was to maintain and preserve the integrity of Loving’s original design and routing. At the same time, we wanted to modernize the course from a construction, maintenance, agronomic and playability standpoint.”
ADDRESSING AESTHETICS
Make no mistake: The Water’s Edge is private real estate-driven golf with plenty of housing in place and more on the way. But to the developer’s credit, the structures do not encroach upon strategic surfaces or players’ psyches.
In Mandell, a Pinehurst-based golf course architect, Willard found a soulmate who shared his vision.
“Design is basically problem solving,” Mandell says, “so you analyze and figure out what those problems are from maintenance, design, aesthetic and operational standpoints and figure how to fix those problems.”
Mandell had plenty to work with and plenty to fix.
“Most golf courses have to go through renovation after a certain period,” he says. “Course features wear down. Bunkers need to be rebuilt every 10 to 12 years, greens every 20 to 30.”
First and foremost was the need to rearrange the course to accommodate today’s technology. Bunkers were moved back and/or added on any number of holes, including all but two holes on the inward half to give the 6,976-yard par 72 course a new look and feel.
“Water’s Edge bunkers needed freshening up and some infrastructure repair,” Mandell says.
The addition of carefully hand raked bright, white bunker sand evokes the feel of other upscale courses that dominate the PGA TOUR.
The Water’s Edge also sports new agronomy. Old Penncross greens have been replaced with an A1-A4 bentgrass blend.
“The new turfgrasses for greens are more heat and disease resistant and more drought tolerant,” Mandell says.
On most greens, noticeably at Nos. 2, 11, 13, 17, and 18, he skillfully softened contours and reduced the gradient to allow putting surfaces to handle and 11 on the Stimpmeter. The solution to moderating No. 11’s severe back-to-front slope was to create three tiers. In smoothing and rebuilding green contours, the designer blended them seamlessly into surrounding topography.
ACCOMMODATING OPTIONS
Restaurants and real estate golf rely heavily on presentation. At the Water’s Edge, Mandell used a deft artistic touch in offering members new putting surfaces. At the 357-yard par-4 fourth, he set the green back 25 yards.
Holes 8 (402 yards) and 11 (211 yards), already full of demands, present completely different views. For example, at the eighth Mandell moved the green 15 yards to the left to accommodate back right hole locations. Meanwhile, at the par-3 11th, he adeptly slid the green a few yards clockwise and created a much-needed bailout area right of the green.
Lush fairways are a rye-bluegrass blend (much of it is sod from Delaware) and expanded teeing areas (L-93 bentgrass) into more efficient shapes than the old free-form tees. The tee enlargement at No. 15, the course’s shortest hole and golf course superintendent Jeff Snyder’s “agronomic pain in the rear,” now allows for greater playability and teeing options.
Clearing in front of the 10th tee gives golfers a better view of the landing area and the greenside pond has been extended more into the fairway. Additionally, by shifting the tee 30 yards to the left at the 379-yard 12th, Mandell had helped soften an awkward dogleg hole and provided a better fairway line to the green.
Part and parcel of the renovation was a massive irrigation upgrade including new pipes, heads and pump station, a systematic harmony that Snyder calls “just phenomenal.” He’s particularly pleases with a controlled system of “innies and outies” that permit perimeter watering without green flooding.
OPENING UP THE COURSE
The one adjustment the Willard-Mandell marriage required was a meeting of the minds about tree management. Mandell was for it; Willard wasn’t so sure. A final understanding eliminated 1,500 trees, or about 10 percent, resulting in enhanced panoramas, more risk-reward opportunities and healthier turf thanks to additional air movement.
On many holes (#3, #6, #8, #14, #17) among others, the result is altered playability, better sight lines and greater curb appeal. One of the most dramatic views is on the right-hand side of No. 6 tee, which offers a direct shot to the shimmering lake behind the green.
“That view has sold a heck of a lot of property for us,” Snyder says. Rerouted cart paths have cleaned up the layout’s look as well.
For the ultimate room with a view, stand on the deck of the renovated clubhouse. Looking south one’s gaze reveals a revamped dogleg right first hole with a now visible opening green. Below lies a fully developed practice facility complete with a large, immaculate putting green and ample practice tee.
Off to the right extending down toward the 10th green is a bunker and chipping area adroitly positioned to facilitate both greenside and fairway game simulation.
Practice is fine, but most members prefer playing. The Water’s Edge features five teeing options ranging from 4,362 to 6,976 yards. The routing is fair, the course impeccably groomed, challenging and female-friendly.
Take a moment to pause at No. 7 tee. In front lies a 183-yard island green or potential watery grave.
Depending on how things go there, check out the completely renovated 40-seat chapel between the sixth and eighth fairway. It’s utilized for weddings and special events after 5 p.m. Beyond the pews is a Bible. Use it or take your own Harvey Penick and reflect upon the heavenly opportunities that await on the next 10 holes.
Richard Mandell Golf Architecture
©2007 All right reserved
©2007 All right reserved
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